Palestine, 1936. The uprising that took on an Empire. As villages across Mandatory Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest. But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, and the Palestinian population uniting in the largest and longest uprising against Britain’s 30-year dominion, all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region. Director Annemarie Jacir moves her story forward at pace, balancing plot lines, tones and character motivations against a strong grasp of the complex history — with precise cinematography and a haunting score to deliver a period film that foregrounds character development against shaping forces of economics, politics, and identity.
“With PALESTINE ‘36, [director Annemarie Jacir] pulls off something of the impossible: a purely anti-colonialist film with the aesthetic polish of a big-budget Hollywood epic…. Beautifully shot and researched, and peppered with historical touches.” —Gregory Nussen, Screenrant “A story of national identity and resistance with contemporary resonance, but it’s also a classic genre movie, its historical tapestry populated by a strong ensemble of screen stars as well as impressive newcomers…. As PALESTINE ‘36 dramatizes so well, the fight for justice is no more complicated than the schism between heartlessness and compassion, no less urgent than the interfused fires of anguish and hope.” —Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter
